Stress: How do you deal with it?

[Amy SF]

I've been having recurring stomachaches lately, and I'm quite sure most of it is related to stress: Strsss over my job, money, the election, my elderly parents, and those are just the BIG issues in my life. I really can't deal with stress very well. Even something as minor as my computer freezing up on me can set me off. :o

I tend to ignore my stress or push my emotions inward, and I know none of that is good for me, healthwise. I'm not sure what is the best way for me to deal with my stress. So I was wondering how everybody on the board deals with the stress in their lives, big and small. Do you go running? Walking? Other kind of exercise? Do you listen to a certain kind of music, or indulge in primal scream therapy, or ice cream therapy?

The thing I'm stressing over most right now is the election on Tuesday. :sick: I'm literally sick to my stomach over it. I'm very worried about the outcome of the election. I wish I was one of those "I don't care about politics" people, but that's not how I was raised. Apathy has always been considered a dirty word in my parents' house, and I can't NOT care about the election. :deal:

How do you remove, or at least reduce, the stress in your life?

[Beachbnny]

So sorry you're stressin Amy!

I take a vacation. Even if it's just a stay-cation where I turn off my phone, watch movies, paint my nails, and take a bath with chocolate and magazines. It's important to take a break from it all.

Since it's only Tuesday and this is a day you're stressed over I'd start making a list of things that would make me feel better and things I'm greatful for that I already have. It sounds simple but just writing that out can help ease the stress a little. I'd make all my plans for a saturday stay-cation starting right now. Make your house your own little spa, movie theatre, or bake shop. Whatever makes you feel good and distracts you from everything thats' going on.

Then hug a kitty :) Hope you feel better.

[MrFalafel]

There are different kinds of stress and the type of stress you seem to have is 'worry'.

First of all, recognize you have a problem with 'worrying'. Learn about what worrying is and why we do it. Look at a 'worry' as a medical condition, something that can be treated. Here's some basic info: http://superperformance.com/worry2.html

For me, I found that if a subject was causing me worry, I would isolate what the problem was down to the root cause analysis and then determine what the 'worst case scenario' would be and then make a plan for that 'worse case scenario'. By knowing what my action would be if the worst thing happened, that would free me up from 'worry' and I could move on and be pleasantly surprised if the worse case scenario didn't happen.

For example: the election. What is the worse case scenario? One candidate will win and perhaps that candidate wouldn't be your choice. What can you do? Well, you can become more active in opposition politics to ensure your congressman and senators are on top of the new president to keep them from doing anyting too crazy. You can also personally prepare for any worse case scenarios that the new president may enact. This way, you are focusing on action as opposed to just endless cyclical worrying about 'what may happen'.

Its a big subject and difficult to treat but you can do it with practice.

[Scorpius]

:beer:

[Brandon]

I run.

And talk about what I'm feeling inside to a good friend.

[Iria]

I have an anxiety disorder, so that's where I'm coming from in these solutions. However, since your stress seems to coming from an excess of worrying, my methods of dealing with anxiety should work for too much worry as well.

I have different methods depending on what is feasible at the moment, and I kind of mix-and-match them. For a long-term solution, you might want to look into finding a daily deep relaxation exercise that works for you, such as meditation or progressive muscle relaxation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_relaxation). Even ten or so minutes a day of deep relaxation over time will help your body and mind be less anxious. Daily (or at least a couple times a week) cardiovascular exercise is a good way to burn off excess anxiety as well.

You could also try finding a hobby. For me, writing really helps me with stress and anxiety. I can pour my negative feelings into a story instead of holding them in.

Good luck! I'll come back here with more information as I think of it.

[Poppy]

With the serious health issues this family has, I have constant stress. I deal with it in several ways. First, exercise - almost everyday I go for a run or do yoga. It clears my head and allows me to think through my problems and concerns with no other distractions. Second, I volunteer regularly - I think it does a person good to do something for the betterment of the world. It makes your own problems seem smaller and puts life in perspective. And finally I have two serious hobbies that give me an escape from stress - painting and cooking.

[SobeVegChick]

Then hug a kitty :) Hope you feel better.

Kitty huggin always helps. :yes:

[Starblossom]

I have anxiety problems too and I find it helps to just get outside and go for a walk. Going to the gym is even better, but if I can't motivate myself for that, a walk is okay too. I need to just get out of the house and do something besides sitting there worry worry worrying.

Playing my guitar or flute also helps me. Or I'll call up a friend to talk to, or meet someone for coffee. Writing in my journal can help, too. After writing it out then reading back over it, it helps put things into perspective.

[MZCsmpsns]

OMG... the first time I tried to reply to this, my mouse died, then my keyboard suddenly decided not to work.... tried to post again and there was an error.... grr... are you kidding me?

Anyway, I'm sorry you're so stressed and I hope you find a healthy outlet.

[Gear Shifter]

I don't deal with stress very well at all, lol.
The only thing that seems to work for me is escape, and it only works while I'm gone, because, of course, when I return, the stressor is usually still there!

My fiance is good at helping me relax and work through it, but stress and I pretty much butt heads like rams until the situation is over. =[

[Gear Shifter]

OMG... the first time I tried to reply to this, my mouse died, then my keyboard suddenly decided not to work.... tried to post again and there was an error.... grr... are you kidding me?


Speaking of stress... ;]

[synergy]

I dance and then do yoga, to some fantastic music.

I pray, and ask for help and surrender.

I talk to friends/family and tell them I need some love.There are a few friends of mine whose can make me feel better with just a little text message, cause I can feel their love radiating through it!


If I can, I go over to my dad's house, so I can hug my little brother and sisters, who just melt away stress and then I'll spend time with their pets... petting them. Hugs and pets do help!

[Fyvel]

Yoga, which reminds me I should get back into that again :think:

[jenni-anti-fur]

I do Yoga Too and Meditate to some calming music..I write or talk to a close friend...Give My Fiancee a bigg Hugg and Kiss that helps alot too....Watch a Movie something with the Haimster Usually and that makes me laugh and Laughing always makes me feel better.

[Pinkmama]

I walk....and walk and walk with my lovely Leni and make an effort to pay attention to the things she finds ineresting...it is amazing how de-stressing messing about with pine cones can be!

I have a loooooooong soak in the bath with a good book and a cuppa.

I talk to my lovely husband who can usually find a solution, or at least a hug!

I knit...something that takes just enough concentration to keep my mind off it...the satisfaction of making something is always enough to chill me out.

Clarexxx

[lirpa1]

Geesh I need a nice way to deal with stress...

I think almost everything at the moment is building up and going wrong :(

University fees are going up in January, and I already pay international fees because I am not Australian. I can barely afford the fees as it is, and I cant get any assistance because I'm not in america where I am a citizen, and I dont live with my parents so the government won't help me, and Australia won't help b/c I'm not a permanant resident.... so I pay it out of my own money which is hard, and now I have to find four grand by the end of December :( or find and extra three hundred, plus the four grand afterwards... when fees arent due till end of january normally...

I buy better products fot our house (non-dairy butter, non-rennet cheeses) and my partner's mom still buys the dairy butter and rennet cheeses, and cooks with them... and as of today I am going to start boycotting and not eat the meals unless they are vegetarian (non rennet cheese) and what I want... and I know that will cause problems... but geesh, I even buy the special ones (which dont cost extra anyhow) for our fridge, then she stocks up on her stomach cheeses, and makes dinners with it... and uses the other butter when I spent money on the non-dairy one...

I have 2 weeks to get these papers to immigration... yet I dont know half the answers they ask on there... like where I have lived for the past ten years? we've moved around heaps, so thats about 15 addresses, 8 or 9 of which I wouldnt know b/c my mom and I didnt live there very long... then there are q's about my family, which again I wouldnt know b/c I barely even seen my brothers when I was young, so how am I supposed to answer all these questions??? Then there is the problem that I don't even know if her visa will go through, b/c I'm estranged from her... and she has had multiple DV orders against her Aussie husband... and if it doesnt go through, I will have to find more $ for my own visa so I can stay here... so I might as well kiss university good bye for a bit if that happens...

*sigh* and my partner and I argue over the whole veggie thing, he supports me one minute, and is great, has a veggie meal.. and then next thing he eats meat at every single meal, every single day for a while.. and i just get annoyed bc we rarely even eat together anymore, and my meals are prepared seperately bc i dont want meat juices or blood or anything on mine... and he doenst understand why I care so much about this.. and it gets annoying that I get picked on when I go out, and answering all the questions about vegetarianism at every meal time when I go out.. and arguing with people about what I will and will not eat... and having staff tell me something is vegetarian when it is not vegetarian... and people telling me animals are made to be eaten, and how they will continue to support the meat farmers (as if I really care to know???) and all kinds of other information I don't care to know about what the eat and don't and why...

Geesh, and at uni, i have loads of homework to do tonight b/c I have been trying to figure out how to fillout these immigration forms... and the substitute lecturer in one class is a horrible teacher, and makes it hard to concentrate because he has such a monotone voice... and just reads through the notes.. so now I need to go back over those chapters and teach them to me myself..

Geesh I am a big complainer sorry... it just gets abit much sometimes, and today is one of those days it is abit much...

Breathe in... out...and ill take each minute as it comes.

[sweet_wheat]

i pray and i work out at the same time (but 'working out' for me is pretty much walking). i walk on the treadmill to get my heart rate in the zone for about 40 minutes, then sometimes i go on the elliptical or run a few laps around the track.

swimming is great as well if you're a water-lover like me. though the bath may be the best. zillions of children running around and screaming at the local pool isn't much as far as a stress relief. try candles, nice warm water, and soft music.

[rejey]

Aww lirpa it sounds like you're having a pretty hard time :( sorry I can't suggest any solutions. But at least if you're standing up for what you believe in, you don't have that extra thing weighing on your conscience.

[Pixelle]

Drugs 'n' debauchery work for me :p On my days off from that I find exercise helps a little bit.

[SobeVegChick]

Lirpa, it sounds like you have a lot on your (vegetarian, or course) plate. It will all work out, I am sure. And hey, you are living in an amazing place. I am envious of the opportunity you have created for yourself to study in Australia. It will all be worth the struggle in the end! :rockon:

[lirpa1]

Lirpa, it sounds like you have a lot on your (vegetarian, or course) plate. It will all work out, I am sure. And hey, you are living in an amazing place. I am envious of the opportunity you have created for yourself to study in Australia. It will all be worth the struggle in the end! :rockon:

aww ur right! I am feeling better today :pibo: I finally had a win yesterday and found some papers t hat will help with the immigration papers i need to fill out so that was good news for a change...

and yea, at least I am studying it will be worth it.. and im lucky to have a great bf, cuz i know if this visa doesnt go through, he will go with me to get another one so I wont get kicked outta the country...

and I have the yummiest lunch today! yay ha ha

Thanks :rockon:

[synergy]

Drugs 'n' debauchery work for me :p On my days off from that I find exercise helps a little bit.

The 3 D combo, Drugs, Dancing and Debauchery is my personal favorite, as it incorporates exercise right in there.

[dani_cat]

When i'm stressed, I like to exercise, hug my cat, and take a bubble bath.

[ilovesabzi]

Yoga is definitely something that helps me relax - that and retail therapy. But if I can, I also love to hang out with my little cousins - the little kiddos make me forget all about the crazy 'adult' things in life that stress me out... they also remind me that sometimes life is about wearing tiaras and putting on every bracelet and necklace that you have.